MPSC is holding a training course in Boston, MA that provides Protected
Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on
June 8-9. This class will include a vessel trip to Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary, one of the top whale-watching locations in
the world! Currently, humpback, fin, sei and minke whales have been
quite active in the area. The vessel trip will provide the opportunity
to practice the skills discussed in class regarding locating and
identifying marine mammals and sea turtles. Attendees will also be able
to practice wildlife photography using manual settings on digital SLR
cameras, and distance estimation using binoculars with reticles. This
course will also host a special guest speaker from NMFS, who will
discuss PSO roles, regulatory framework, MMPA, and more.
This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
(BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to
provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys in
the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which may
often be accepted in various other regions or industries where
monitoring and mitigation for protected species is needed. The course
examines the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine
mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the
animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to
regulatory agencies. Student/recent graduate and government or
non-profit discounts are available. Lunch is provided each day, along
with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to
keep), advice on applying to PSO positions, the vessel trip, and the
professional certification.
MPSC will also be holding PSO Training in Monterey, CA on June 1-2.
Additional information for either course may be found online at
http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at
[email protected], or by phone at 832-523-2402.
Thank you,
Angela Bostwick
Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting
ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com
https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/
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